This luxury stay in Ballarat houses impeccable Australian art and fine dining

Hotel Vera is the height of glamour in the Goldfields region.

When heritage is heighten by sophisticated design and delicate details that highlight the architectural allure, you know that pride is placed on a project.

This is exactly the case for Ballarat’s most design-forward, attractive accommodation, Hotel Vera.

An enterprise spearheaded by the dynamic business minds of Ballarat’s David Cook-Doulton and Martin Shew, Hotel Vera is a masterclass in modern interior design, considered and respectful restoration, sustainable living, and culture-centred craftsmanship.

The sanctuary stay sits in the heart of Ballarat’s CBD. Formerly a 19th century medical building, the now revived mansion has become a bespoke destination, thanks to it’s seven elevated, personalised suites, it’s award-winning fine dining restaurant, Babae, and its gallery-worthy curation of Australian art.

Hotel Vera & Babae

Where: 710 Sturt Street, Ballarat

Keep up to date with the latest in food and drinks across regional Victoria here.

Hotel Homage: Where Architectural Appeal Meets Art-led Design

 

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Hotel Vera is a passion project for David Cook-Doulton and Martin Shew. Renowned for their creative prowess, attention to design details, and uncompromising appreciation of existing historic buildings, the home for Hotel Vera was an obvious contender.

Upon discovering the 19th-century marvel in the Goldfield’s CBD, the couple immediately accepted the challenge of discovering the builds potential through the development of much needed luxury short-stay living. Tastefully juxtaposing the historic elements against a clean, contemporary aesthetic, Hotel Vera immediately becomes its own storybook.

Named in honour of Cook-Doulton’s maternal grandmother Vera, the hotel holds her qualities of the utmost care, attention, thoughtfulness and grace. There is an elegance and warmth to the Hotel Vera suites, providing comfort and tranquillity to guests from the moment they step foot in the door.

“There are those rare people who touch our lives in very special ways. They guide us with their love, wisdom and humanity. When I think of love, I see my grandmother’s face, smiling, reaching for an embrace. I want this hotel to embody this unassuming, yet extraordinary woman,” says David Cook-Doulton.

Named after the neighbouring towns nestled in the Goldfields region, each of the seven personalised suites is accentuated by pieces of a renowned Australian female artist. You have the crown jewel of the Kingston, a green gem that mirrors the foliage of the potato growing region. With Melbourne artist Ember Fairbairn’s dual oil on wood panel abstract paintings underpinning the earthly grounding, the Kingston is the most coveted suite in the hotel. Ercildoune is the blushing bride of Hotel Vera, with the romantic retreat elevated by the free-standing Rogerseller claybrook bath tub, two cloudlight works from Neville French and Anthea Kemp’s grandiose Inside a Flower 2022 haloing the king-size bed. The soothing Sandon is blanketed in blues and carried by Heather B. Swann’s fascinating work Waterfall. The sweet Smeaton is luscious and lavish, subtly sinking into minimalist and monochromatic elements to allow the room speak for itself. A choice of canola leaf colouring only enhances the glorious abstract work of First Nations artist Karen Mills, the hero piece in this grandiose space.

Using sense-memory and artistic richness as focal points for design, Cook-Doulton and Shew’s selection of artworks tie all of the elements of each space together. This is certainly the case for Lonarch. The combination of oak floors, double rain showers with marble, fluted panelling and glass in the kitchenette, the brick exposed walls, and Carol Batchelor’s densely textured immersive work Layers of Time 01 create an unexpected cohesion that is both evocative and understated. Dunach is perhaps Hotel Vera’s most ambitiously designed suite. Yellow is a difficult colour to compete with in design, but this canola field fitout is not loud nor bold. There is an intimacy to the space with cosy comforts that make it feel rich. Add into the mix the vivid artwork of Naarm artist Julia Powles and you have a delightful space. The final tourist sanctuary is Tourello, wrapped in rich reds taking cues from the volcanic soils of the region. The depth and warm of the space is brought together by Left Side Living; a vibrant work from Sydney artist Tonee Messiah, known for her collaboration with Australian clothing brand Gorman.

The design of each dedicated space is only elevated by the stand-up service of Hotel Vera. Bookings also include a seasonal inspired continental breakfast sourced from local producers. That’s not even to mention the pièce de résistance of the services available at Hotel Vera. Look no further than the fine dining delight under the Hotel Vera roof.

Brilliance with Babae

 

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A permanent resident of the Hotel Vera family is fine dining setting Babae.

Led by the culinary direction of Executive Chef, Tim Foster, and driven with the dining distinction of head chef Roy Rosenfield, Babae is a glistening gastronomy gem in the goldfield region.

Babae, the latin words for “wow” lives up to its etymological origins. Showcasing the best regional Victoria has to offer through carefully sourced seasonal produce, Babae balances bold dishes with humble roots. The intimate fine dining restaurant seats only 26 guests, allowing attention to be paid to both the dish and the diners. Their menu focuses on Australian cuisine championed by, and championing, the growers and producers from around the region, including an abundance of freshly grown produce from the on-site garden. It’s a hand-in-glove working arrangement to design and deliver the most delicious dishes.

Looking to the men behind the menu, Foster has finessed his food creation craft since the age of five, under this maternal grandmothers guiding hand (a special synergy to the Hotel Vera name), seeing his skills transferred to transform Healesville Hotel and then Source Dining in Kyneton, where he was awarded a Chefs Hat in the Age Good Food Guide for 9 consecutive years. Now as the Culinary Director of Goldfields Hospitality Group, Foster has shaped Babae and the sister dining experience Terrae in Bendigo.

Fosters flavours are further fuelled by his helping hand head chef, Roy Rosenfield. Rosenfeld is a chef with 18 years of international experience, beginning his career in Tel Aviv before moving on to some of the world’s most acclaimed kitchens, including Arzak in San Sebastián (three Michelin stars), Heston Blumenthal’s The Hinds Head in Bray (one Michelin star), and Thomas Keller’s The French Laundryin California (three Michelin stars). In Australia, he spent over four years at Lake House in Daylesford.

The front of house is just as masterfully managed by Restaurant Manager, Eunhee You. You ensures the Babae experience is exceptional on the service and presentation front with her keen eye for detail and passion for aesthetically pleasing design.

A Ballarat International Foto Biennale booster

 

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As the Ballarat region bustles with visitors for the world-class festival, Ballarat International Foto Biennale, Hotel Vera is one of the most desirable accommodation spots, particularly with their hosting hat in the mix.

The site is generously supporting Geelong-based artist Grace Seow to display projection work, In Blooms We Trust. Adding to their already abundant Australian art offering, the Ballarat International Foto Biennale work complements the buildings rich palette and cultural marks.

Born and raised in Asia, Seow is a self taught photographer. She held her first solo exhibit in 2022. In Blooms We Trust, Encore is an ongoing exploration of blooms as an intention and expression of hope. With light coming in through a single window, Seow wanted to capture how light danced and changed through the day, and through the seasons. Blooms, mostly grown in her garden, are often intentionally photographed searching, gazing towards the light, even in the moonlight. The series begins with a bloom(s) in the dark: an invitation to be still, to recalibrate. As you journey through the series, you will notice the incremental illumination of the flowers, guiding and transporting you into the joyous celebration of light. The infallible poise of a bloom: sure, steadfast, strong yet gloriously soft and gentle.

The exhibition is showing until Sunday 19 October under the Ballarat International Foto Biennale open program.

This delicate visual diary only enhances the Hotel Vera storybook; one where art, history, excellence, and local characters blend seamlessly to build a journey.

Hotel Vera is a valued accommodation addition to the regional Victorian landscape, with Babae being a beacon of hospitality brilliance not only in Ballarat but in Australia’s dining diaries. Find out more about Hotel Vera and Babae here.